Suspect arrested in store burglary

Published 2:29 pm Monday, May 16, 2016

MEIGS, Ga. — The Meigs Police Department arrested a suspect in the May 8 robbery of Dollar General on the outskirts of Meigs.

Authorities said surveillance video enabled officers to create and enhance a photo of the suspect, later identified as Larry Caldwell.

Officers apprehended Caldwell at his residence on Collins Street in Meigs.

According to Police Chief Gary Price, Caldwell was apprehended on May 11 without incident. He was wearing some of the stolen items, authorities said. 

Caldwell was turned over to Investigator Pascal Autrey of the Thomas County Sheriff’s Office.

The store is actually located on U.S. 19 North outside the city limits and outside the jurisdiction of the Meigs Police Department.

Price said the Thomas County Sheriff’s Office and Meigs Police Department have a great working relationship.

“The criminal intelligence they share with us allows us the opportunity to assist them in solving some of their active crimes. This type of service enhances police presence not only for the citizens of Meigs, but for the citizens of Thomas County,” Price said.

On the night of the robbery, authorities said the thief’s shopping spree of more than one hour was caught on video, but the store’s burglar alarm system failed.

The video shows the store closing at 10:17 p.m. The burglar, with a white t-shirt over his face entered, at 11:45 p.m. and continued until 1 a.m.

According to Lt. Tim Watkins, Thomas County Sheriff’s Office chief investigator, it appeared that a bottle was used to smash the front window to gain entry.

The burglar, whose hands were covered with gloves or socks, walked around the store taking various items, primarily clothing, soft drinks and sports drinks.

“Basically, it looks like he went shopping,” Watkins said.

The video showed the thief filling small, yellow shopping baskets with goods and leaving the store, basket in tow, through the large opening in the broken glass at the front of the building.

He returned, passing through the opening in the glass, and repeated the shopping experience. Watkins said it is not known what the burglar did with the stolen items outside the building. Only the interior of the store is visible on the video.